Snap switch



May 11 1926. 1,584,367

F. P. GATES SNAP SWITCH Filed Feb. '7, 1924 i' 45 button bars.

Patented May 11, r1926.

UNITED STATEs ritiri-:lar OFFICE.,

FREDERIC P. GATES, OF 'WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULLER- I GATES COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

-sNAP swrron.

\ Application led February 7, 1924. Serial No. 691,182.

My invention relates to the class of snap switches wherein the switch member or blade is given a sudden snapping movement by changing the 'location of the point of attachment of the actuating spring, and an object of my invention, among others, 1s the provision of a mechanism of this type that shall be extremely simple and inexpensivein construction, particularly eli'cient in operation, and'one in which the several parts may be interloeked to retain them in assembled condition.

Oneuform of switch embodying my invention and in the construction` and' use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, lmay be attained, is` illustrated .in `the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in section through the supporting block for the switch mechanism on a plane indicated generally by the dotted line 1-1 of Figure' 2.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the switch with the bottom plate removed.

Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating a preliminary step in assemblying the switch mechanism.

Figure 4 is a similar view, but illustrating a succeeding stepin assemblying such mechanism.

Figure 5 is another similar View, but illustrating another step in assembling the switch mechanism, Figures 3, 4 and 5 being shown in section on a cated by the dotted line 3 3 of Figure 8,

but the switch blade being shown in its normal operative position rather. than in the position shown in Figure 8.

Figure 6 is a detail'view of one of the. su portin bars. o

lgure is a view in section through the supporting frame on a plane generally passing through one of the pivots of the switch blade supporting frame. this view illustrating the manner of attachment of the push Figure 8 is a face view of the supporting frame and of the switch blade support- 'ing frame, other parts. also being shown but as cut in section.

Figure 9 is a top view of the switch.

My invention as' illustrated and described herein comprises switch mechanism that is composed almost entirely of members cut or stamped from sheet metal andso arplane generally indiranged that they may be assembled by in- 56 terlocking the parts one within another, thereby avoiding the use of screws and similar parts for securing the members together. Such mechanism as illustrated and described herein comprises a supporting frame preferably of generally rectangular shape, perfectly fiat, and formed from sheet metal from which it may be stamped to shapeas by means'of dies. This frame comprises a top piece 9, a bottom piece 10 and'y side pieces The top piece 9 has a guidenotch 12 vand thebottom piece has a bearing notch 13,

both to receive a rocker frame as hereinafter described, and the side parts each having a bearing lug 14 upon which parts of 70 lthe mechanism to be hereinafter described are rotatably mounted. .Notches 15 are also made in the outer edge of the bottom piece for the reception of supporting bars 16, y which bars are also preferably'notched for 75 the reception of the bottom piece ofthe supportmg'frame, and they also. are-provided with openings 17 comprising a stop shoulder 18 at each end to limit the swinging movement of a switch blade supporting frame, which frame is Jformed from sheetmetal, as are the bars 16 just described, said frame being of U-shape and comprising legs 19l joined by a cross piece S20; Each of the, legs has rivet lugs 21 pro- 85 jecting from its outer edge and to which lugs pivot plates 22, one at'each side of the frame are secured as by riveting the ends of the lugs. Each pivotplate has an opening constituting a bearing to receiveone of 90 the bearing lugs 14, each of said -plates having an assembling` notch 23 through which the bearing lug 14-is passed edgewise in the act of pivotally mounting the vplates and securing them in position. Each of these notches is tapered from a wider dimension at tllevedge of the plateto a narrower dimension at the throat of the not-ch where it communicates with the bearing opening, said throat being of less width than the diameter of said opening so that the bearing lugs 14, after having been passededgewise through said throat `into the opening, will be held therein whenthe switch blade supporting frame is turned into its normal. operative position.v These pivot plates are both formed `from sheet metalin the same manner as hereinbefore described' with respect to the legs 19, a switch blade 25 vlocated in the openings -outer edge,`

arc of a circle having the bottom of thel 1 notch 27 approximately as its center, this other parts, and a 'switch blade supporting plate 24, also formed in the same manner, is secured against the edge of one of the being secured between said supporting plate and the pivot plate on this side of the structure, and as s hown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The end of the switch blade supporting frame is 17 and is caused, in the swinging movement of this frame, to strike the shoulders 18 that form stops to limit such movement of said frame.

i A rocker frame 26 is also formedV from sheet metal of the gene-ral shape vof a foursided figure, with top, bottom and side ieces, the botto-m piece having a bearing notch 27 that receives the bottom piece 10 of the supporting frame, and as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, bottom piece constituting the bearing for the rocker frame. The top piece 28, as to its is curved substantially on the edge of said top piecel fitting into the guide notch 12 in the supporting frame, and as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. Au

actuating spring 29 is secured at one end to said top pie-ce 28 and at its opposite end to the cross piece 20 of the switch blade supporting frame, as clearly1 shown in Figure 8 of the drawings.

Push button bars BOare also formed from sheet metal, perfectly flat, and each has al slot'l forming the bar into a link that engages by entry edgewise through a slot 32 into a hole 33 in the rocker frame 26. This hole is larger in diameter than the width of the slot 32 and the piece closing the outer end of the slot 31 is of a widthsubs'tantially equal to the diameter of the hole: 38 so that when said end piece is located within said hole and the bar 30 is swung to its engaged f position said bar is held from disengagement from the rocker frame. There isV a -push button "bar attached to 'each edge of said rocker frame, and each of said bars has a push button 34 secured to its outer end. Eachpushbutton has a recess 35 in its under surface to receive the upper edge of the rocker frame-in` its swinging-movement, and this permits the buttons to be set well down on the bars 30 without interfering with the movement of vsaid rocker frame.

It will be noted that every part thus far described, with the exception of the spring 29, switch bla-de 25 and the push buttons 34,

is formed from sheet metal all of substantiallvthe saine thickness, all'perfectly fiat, and (that,V therefore, these parts may bc rapidly produced inlarge quantities at a said Yshown in Figure 7 of the drawings.

blade supporting frame is of of one of the legs 19 through said opening to locate the lcross piece20 in said opening. The throat of the assembly notch 23 being of less Width than the diameter of the bearing opening, as hereinbefore described, will T0 cause the switch blade supporting -frame to be held in place after the flat lugs 14 have been passed edgewise through said throat and said frame has been turned to its normal operative position, as shown in Figure 7 of 75 the drawings.

In assembling the structure the switch blade supporting frame is engaged with the rocker frame by passing one of the legs of the former through the opening 'in the latter, and both of said frames are then engaged with the supporting frame by placing the rocker frame with its notch 27 in engagement with the bottom piece 1() of the supporting frame, passing one end of the suf'itchblade 25 throughthe opening in the supporting. frame and engaging the top niece 28 of the rocker frame in the guide notch 12 in the supporting frame, the rocker frame being now swung substantially half way through the supporting frame. In this position of the parts the spring is not cngaged With the switch blade supporting frame andthe assembling notches 23 are located opposite the bearing lugs 14.

The rocker frame is now swungfurther iu the same direction to .the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, and the switch blade supporting frame is moved upwardly until the lugs 14 are located in their bearing. openings in the switch blade supporting frame, in which position they are held while the rocker frame is swung in a reverse direction and to the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. This backward movcnient of t-he rocker frame causes the parts to assume the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, in which position the spring 29' may now be enga-ged.' with the switch blade supporting frame. After the spring has been thus engaged the rocker frame is again swung in a direction reverse to that `iust described and to the position shown in Figure 7 and the supporting bar s 1G are placed in position with their notches engag ing the notches 15 in the supporting frame. `When thus `placed the cross piece 20 of the switch blade supporting frame will be lo` cated in the openings 17 in the supporting bars, the parts now having the position The push button bars 30 are now engaged with the rocker frame in the manner hereinbefore described-and the structure is ready for insertion in the switch block.

This switch blockv 36 has a chamber 37 'with side grooves 38 to receive the edges of and the structure is secured within the chamber `37 by engaging the edges of the supporting `frame in the side grooves 38 and the ends of struction to engage the switch blade 25 as the latter is rocked with its supporting frame in opposite directions on the pivotsor bearing lugs 14, arev secured upon and project from .ledges in the chamber 37. These terminals are connected` by suitable conductors, as screws A 42, with vwire -terminals 43 secured to the upper side of the blockl and having any ordinary and suitable means for attachment of vwires thereto. y

, The switch blade 25, as hereinbefore described, is secured between the plates 22 and 24 and in doing this rivets are made use of, such` rivets extending through both of said platesand through the switch blade which may bev of any ordinary form and construction. i

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to rek present the best embodiment thereof; but I and applied desire to have itnnderstood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried outby other means .to uses other than those above set out.

I claimv 1. A switch including switch mechanism comprising a fiat r'ectangularly shaped sup` porting frame formed from -a single piece Hoi sheet'metal and including yside pieces having integral bearing lugs projecting there-4 from, a rocker frame located in the opening Vin said supporting frame and seated for roc-kingA movement u on the bottom piece of said supporting rame, a switch blade supporting frame` mounted upony said lugs, a

spring connecting said switch blade supporting frame and said rocker frame, andmeans :for actuatin said rocker mechanism; y

2. A switi 'including' switchV mechanism comprising a tlatrectangularly shaped sup.-

porting frame formed from a single piecel of sheet metal and including side pieces having' integral bearing lugs pro]ecting therefrom, a rocker frame located in the opening in said su porting frame with one edge seated for roc ing movement'upon the bottom piece of said supporting Jframe -andA its opposite edge projecting into a guide slot in the to ieee of said -supporting frame, a switch b a e supporting frame mounted upon said lugs, a spring connecting said'switch' blade supporting frame and said roclocr rame, and means for actnatinglsaid rocker rame.

3. A switch including switch mechanism and means for operating said rocker frame.

4. A switch including switch-mechanism comprising a flat rectangnlarly shaped supporting frame inclosing an opening and having integral lugs projecting from side pieces bounding said opening, a rocker frame formed from a iat piece of sheet metal com- -pletely inclosing an opening and seated upon the bottom vpiece of said supporting frame for swinging movement crosswise thereof 'through the `opening therein, a switch blade supporting frame projecting through the opening in said rocker fra-me and mounted upon the lugs of the support-- ing frame, means for operatively connecting the switch blade supporting and rocker frames, and means for operating said rocker frame, A

5. A switch including switch .mechanism comprising a supporting frame` having bearing lugs, a rocker frame completely inclosing an o ening therein and supported upon one wa thereof for swinging movement in said supporting frame, a switchI blade supporting frame mounted on said bearing lugs and'open on one side for intered with said switch blade supporting frame,

orsvv locking engagement in the opening in said rocker Vframe, andenclosed by the rocker frame, a'. spring connection between said switch blade supporting and rocker frames, and means for operating said rocker frame.

6. A switch including switehmechanisrn comprising a supporting frame having bearing lugs of less thickness than width, a switch bladeV supporting frame including side pieces, each having a bearingopening with a recess extending thereinto and having edges gradually converging to a throat v'leading into said bearing opening and of a.

notch in said bounding piece,

and having a relatively wide notch with inclined side walls interengaging with said n a switch blade supporting frame operatively connected with said rocker frame, and'means for operating said. rocker frame.

8. A switch including switch mechanism comprising a supporting frame bounding an ope-ning with notches in bounding pieces located on opposite sides of said opening, a rocker frame seated for swinging movement on one of said bounding pieces and having a notch interengaging with the notch in said last mentioned bounding piece, the opposite side of the rocker frame engaging within the notch in the other of said bounding pieces for guidin movement therein, a switch blade supporting frame operatively connected with said 'rocker frame, for operating said rocker frame.

9. A switch mechanism including a supporting -framey with mechanism operatively mounted thereimsaid supporting frame having a notch in one edge thereof, a supporting bar engaged Within said notch, and a switch block having a groove to receive the ends of.

said supporting bar and grooves to receive the edges of said supporting frame.

10'. A switch mechanism including asupand means port-ing frame with mechanism operatively mounted therein, said supporting frame lhaving a notch in an outer edge thereof, a supporting bar having a notch interlocked with the notch in said supporting frame, land a switch block having a-chamber with grooves in opposite sides to receive lthe edges of said supporting frame and posed grooves supporting bar.

11. A.' switch mechanism including a supporting iti-ame, a supporting bar having an with oppositely disto receive the'ends ot' 'said opening with a notch extending therefrom,

said notch receiving an edoe of said supporting frame, a switch blade supporting trame projecting into said opening, and means for operating said switch blade supporting trame..

12. A switch mechanism including a supporting trame with mechanism mounted therein, a supporting bar invnotched engagement with .the edge of said @supporting frame and extending crosswise thereof, and a switch block having a chamber grooves in opposite walls to receive the edges of said supporting frame and also with grooves in its oppositewalls to receive ,the ends' of said supporting bar. FREDERIC P. GATES.

with 

